Posted by Jesse Clark in News on November 26, 2011
NASA has successfully launched the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft, including the new SUV sized rover, Curiosity! 
The MSL rover will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet’s “habitability.”
After a 60 million mile flight, the spacecraft is due to arrive at Mars on Aug. 6, 2012.
For more information on MSL and it’s Mission, check out the JPL website.
Safe journey Curiosity!
Posted by Jesse Clark in Space News on November 10, 2011
Derek Nye once again goes into depth to cover a space topic of current interest, using a clear style accessible to everyone. This time he takes on nothing less than the future of space exploration itself in his article A Collection of Rockets:
Most new rocket engines being built by SpaceX, Armadillo Aerospace, XCOR, and other commercial space companies are liquid rocket engines. So what is a liquid rocket engine? First off, let’s explain how every rocket works. Every rocket works by taking some source of fuel and a concentrated oxygen source, mixing the two, and then igniting them in a combustion chamber. By doing this, you create a stream of high pressure, high velocity gas. Then, the gas is turned supersonic as it is passed through a precisely shaped nozzle. This generates the thrust for the rocket, as this mass of gas is expelled at high speed out of the nozzle. Your sources of fuel and oxygen can be in solid form, liquid form, or a mixture of the two (hybrid). …
Read the rest (and Derek’s other articles) over at D Minus Zero.
Posted by Jesse Clark in Emporium on October 20, 2011
The Space Travelers Emporium is looking … looking for someone like… you!
Do you have
• retail management experience?
• an interest in Space and Space Travel?
• want to combine the two?
Then this might be your opportunity of a lifetime!
UPDATE: Final call for Emporium Manager position resumes. Email emporium@sdspace.org. Deadline Nov. 30th!
Click here for full job details.
Posted by Jesse Clark in Events on September 13, 2011
SpaceX has been hard at work preparing for their next flight — a mission designed to demonstrate that a privately-developed space transportation system can deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). NASA has given a Nov. 30, 2011 launch date, which should be followed nine days later by Dragon berthing at the ISS.
NASA has agreed in principle to allow SpaceX to combine all of the tests and demonstration activities that we originally proposed as two separate missions (COTS Demo 2 and COTS Demo 3) into a single mission. Furthermore, SpaceX plans to carry additional payloads aboard the Falcon 9’s second stage which will deploy after Dragon separates and is well on its way to the ISS. NASA will grant formal approval for the combined COTS missions pending resolution of any potential risks associated with these secondary payloads.
This next mission represents a huge milestone not only for SpaceX, but also for NASA and the US space program. When the astronauts stationed on the ISS open the hatch and enter the Dragon spacecraft for the first time, it will mark the beginning of a new era in space travel.
Through continued private-public partnerships like the one that helped develop the Falcon 9 and Dragon system, commercial companies will transform the way we access space. Together, government and the private sector can simultaneously increase the reliability, safety and frequency of space travel, while greatly reducing the costs.
(more)
SD Space will be covering the mission live at the Space Travelers Emporium and will be holding special activities and events throughout the week long event, so stay tuned for more details!
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Space News on August 5, 2011
Derek Nye once again goes into depth to cover a space topic of current interest, using a clear style accessible to everyone. This time he takes on nothing less than the future of space exploration itself in his article Better Paths to a New Frontier:
Space is limitless in the number of destinations we can pursue. From moons, and planets, to solar systems, and galaxies, we are only at the beginning of what space can offer us. Although we can agree that certain destinations are much more favorable than others, we cannot always agree on the path we will take to get to these destinations, and in what order we wish to pursue them. …
In this post, I will introduce (or re-introduce in some cases) you to some of the better plans we should pursue on our path towards greater space exploration. I will also address the current plan being developed regarding the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System in some detail. …
Read the rest (and Derek’s other articles) over at D Minus Zero.
